Oldham3 - 2Liverpool

Matt Smith's double helped earn League One Oldham a shock win over Liverpool in a classic FA Cup fourth-round tie.

The hosts went ahead when Smith headed in Youssouf M'Changama's cross.

Liverpool skipper Luis Suarez was allowed to run at the Oldham defence as he squeezed in an equaliser.

But Smith took advantage of keeper Brad Jones's error and Reece Wabara scored a delightful back-post header as Oldham restored their advantage although Joe Allen's volley ensured a tense finish.

Steven Gerrard, who was brought on from the substitutes bench with 35 minutes remaining in attempt to turn the game around, hit the bar as nerves frayed at a wet and windy Boundary Park.

Smith's fragmented career

Matt Smith had given up on professional football after being released by Cheltenham aged 18 and went on to gain a degree in International Management with American Studies from the University of Manchester.

While studying he played for the likes of Redditch United, Droylsden and Solihull Moors - where he was spotted by Oldham.

Yet Paul Dickov's side held on for a superb win over the seven-times winners on a weekend when Football League sides have caused upsets on all three days of the fourth round.

Oldham have been beset by financial problems in recent months, meaning manager Dickov has had to shed much of his coaching staff but his players produced a display which made a mockery of their lowly position in the third tier.

It also completed a fantastic response to their 5-1 defeat by the five-times European champions in the FA Cup third round last season.

Despite Gerrard's omission, Liverpool were not under-strength with Suarez, Daniel Sturridge, Fabio Borini and Raheem Sterling all starting in attack.

However, they were overshadowed in the opening exchanges by superb combination play between Smith and his strike partner Robbie Simpson, who bullied Liverpool centre-backs Sebastian Coates and Martin Skrtel.

They made their mark, sometimes literally, and 23-year-old Smith showed his intentions as early as the third minute with a well-taken goal.

Lee Croft mis-cued a shot from 20 yards but it found its way out to the left where M'Changama was given time to cross and Smith beat Coates to head in despite Skrtel's effort to clear off the line.

The tie continued its ferocious start when Raheem Sterling scythed down M'Changama and Simpson followed in on Reds keeper Jones after he spilled a shot.

But as much as Oldham were on the front foot, they were also slow to retreat and they gave Suarez plenty of space to equalise when he ran from his own half and squeezed the ball in after playing an inadvertent one-two with Oldham defender Cliff Byrne.

Sterling should have given Liverpool the lead before the half-hour mark when he breezed into the box but the 18-year-old shot straight at Latics keeper Dean Bouzanis.

Jose Baxter was showing some neat touches in midfield for the hosts but it was against the run of play when Oldham went ahead once more in first-half stoppage time, although it looked as though Sturridge may have been fouled in the build-up.

There looked no danger when Wabara weakly crossed the ball from the right, but Australian keeper Jones fumbled and Croft squared the ball to Smith who tapped in from close range.

Borini could have brought the visitors level again straight from the second-half kick-off when he scooped the ball over the bar and it became a crucial miss when Wabara excellently headed in Winchester's deep cross from the left.

That was enough for Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers to bring on Gerrard, and the Liverpool skipper made an instant impact as his team created several good chances.

Superb blocks from Byrne and Baxter denied the England midfielder and although Simpson shot wide as Coates continued to struggle with his presence, the visitors got a goal back from a corner when Allen volleyed in from the edge of the box via a deflection with 12 minutes remaining.

It looked as though it would prompt a late Liverpool surge, but as Oldham clung on they recorded yet another shock on a magical FA Cup weekend.

Correction - 66:25 Steven Gerrard takes a shot. Blocked by Jose Baxter. Effort on goal by Daniel Sturridge from just inside the box goes harmlessly
over the target.

66:25 Shot by Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) right-footed from centre of penalty area (12 yards), blocked by Jose Baxter (Oldham). Shot
by Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool) left-footed from left side of penalty area (18 yards), over the bar. Goal kick taken long
by Dean Bouzanis (Oldham).

57:18 Outswinging corner from right by-line taken right-footed by Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) to centre, resulting in open play.
Shot by Joe Allen (Liverpool) right-footed from left channel (20 yards), blocked by James Wesolowski (Oldham). Defending throw-in
by Jordan Henderson (Liverpool).

56:45 Outswinging corner from left by-line taken left-footed by Stewart Downing (Liverpool) to far post, resulting in open play.

@623Not aimed directly at you, but it's usually some idiot spouting some rubbish like 'Gerrard is the best English player ever' 'We will win the league next year' or 'Henderson will be England captain in a couple of years'. I'm sick of seeing complete rubbish like that.

@618 Yes what a great idea because we were so good over the second half of last season weren't we? KD would be a step back as would Rafa. We have to move forward with BR for better or worse.@619 I never understand Everton fans moaning about Moyes......top manager IMHO. Kenwright really cares about Everton as well.

618 - You've got to be joking. Dalglish's second tenure was atrocious. He wasted enormous sums of money on very average players whilst letting all the best players walk out of the door, and the results were no better than Rodgers is getting either.

You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear - the results are bad because the squad isn't good enough. Dalglish again would be a step back.

615 - Bilbo - Fans of all persuasions have the stupidity to find fault with the situation without proposing anything better. As an Evertonian I get sick of hearing Blues critical of Moyes apparent legion of faults and shortcomings.

It's taken me until now to stop shaking with anger, i'm still seething though. it's pretty simple - Rodgers has to go. The man is completely out of his depth at Liverpool and mark my words - he won't be in charge at the start of next season. Bring back King Kenny to stabilize things then we'll move on. YNWA.

I'm sure it will take some time (if he gets it!) to make a decent fist of it but poor team performance is down to him. Against Man Utd he set the team ok but got the first half tactics completely wrong! Against Oldham it was screaming out for a Carragher at the back to get them organised and show some backbone!

As usual Rodgers blames everyone but himself.You don't pick center backs who have hardly played together.You don't put together a defence consisting mostly of players who play a full game once in a blue moon.You don't put out a 4-3-3 formation consisting of players more suited to 4-2-4.You don't let your club persistently become the victims of warped refereeing without exposing it.

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.